MUMBAI: The outsized talent produced by the Pakistani music industry has made it a one stop destination for Bollywood to import singers. Cashing on the increasing popularity, Times Music is all set to launch a progressive Pakistani band ‘Laal’ latest album ‘Utho Meri Duniya’ in India.
The launch will witness a performance by the band on 19 April at HRC Delhi.
Speaking with Radioandmusic.com about the launch of cross-border band after hiatus of four years, Times Music COO Mandar Thakur said, “Music is something that we essentially take a decision based on hearing and ( these days ) seeing. Times Music is now ideally the destination of choice for a lot of different sounding artists from across the border or within as today we have a impressive roster of artistes like Indian Ocean, Papon, Rahul Sharma and albums like Vedas and ‘Rock the Tabla’ that are like a breath of fresh air in the congested Bollywood space.”
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The album dedicated to poet Faiz’s vision of a classless society captures the essence and sentiments of the great poet’s belief of a society without exploitation, class discrimination and oppression. The album comprises of 10 soul songs; Na Honay Payee, Ghum Na Kar, Fareeda, Jhooth ka Uncha Sar, Utho Meri Duniya and more.
Consisting of Taimur Rahman (Guitar/ Vocals), Shahram Azhar ( Vocals), Mahvash Waqar (Backup Vocals), Haider Rahman ( Flute) and Jamal Rahman (Guitar), the band prods themselves as the progressive & rebellious activist band from Pakistan who are inspired from the writings of revolutionary poets like Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Habib Jalib and Ahmed Faraz.
As the Bollywood industry is getting out off its comfort zone by experimenting with different voices, many cross-border talents has been highlighted for over past few years. The introduction of sufiana music by Rahman has further escalated the demand for Sufi voices.
Lending his view on the popularity of Pakistani singers in India, Thakur stated, “The Pakistani scene is fairly dependent on bands and artistes and the non-existence of a Bollywood equivalent there has given birth to a very diverse original sounding musical sound. Most of the singers Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Strings, Junoon, Atif Aslam enjoy immense fan following in India and today this sound is exploited in Bollywood movies. Cross country music scenario has always been there and popular in India as much as our Bollywood music is popular in Pakistan.”
